Alloy



Patented June 1, 1926.

CHARLES W. HEPPENSTALL, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HEP- PENSTALL FORGE & KNIFE COMPANY,

PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- ALLOY.

No Drawing.

The particular object which I have in view is the provision of a new and improved alloy for use in operations involving the cutting, shaping or forming of hot steel, and which may be advantageously employed for such purposes in either cast or forged form. Thus my novel alloy is particularly adapted for making shear blades to be used for cutting hot steel, and for forming blocks for die-casting.

"The alloy steels now employed for such purposes are usually alloys containing relatively high percentages of the more expensive alloy elements, such as tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, &c.

My alloy is characterized by the use of relatively high amounts of the relatively inexpensive alloy elements, such as carbon and chrome in combination with hitherto-unknown small amounts of the more expensive elements, such as tungsten or molybdenum.

Thus I have discovered that the following analysis produces greatly improved results: carbon 1.50% to 2.25%, chrome 3.50% to 6%, tungsten 0.50% to 2%.

The elements manganese, silicon, phosphorus and sulphur, are employed within the limits commonly used in commercial alloy steels. llhese limitations are usually approximately as. follows: manganese from 30% to 1.00%; silicon .01% to.50%; phosphorus from a trace to 06%, and sulphur from a trace to 06%.

Nickel may be present in amounts varying from a mere trace up to 1.50%. In many instances nickel is found 31 the steel scrap which is available today. This element causes only a very slight improvement in the performance of my new alloy, and I there-' fore classify it as a non-essential element, frequently present but not materially modifying the alloy. I prefer to keep the nickel below 0.25%.

The element molybdenum may be substituted for the tungsten, following the usual practice of using less of the .former than of the latter, preferably about one-half. However, my experience has been that a better performance is obtained by using tungsten instead of molybdenum.

. I have also found that a slight improve-- ment in performance may be obtained by employingthe element vanadium, but in my Application filed Mai-elf 7, 1925. Serial No. 13,857. I

judgment the added cost involved 4 is not ustified. If employed the vanadium is used in amounts from 0.10% to 0.50%.

My experience in the development of this high carbon-high-chrome alloy containing a small percentage/of tungsten, through laboratory and plant experiment and tests, and through performance in service, has shown that it has exceptional ability to withstand service, such as the cutting or shearing of hot steel, the forming or shaping of hot metal customary, where the very best performance is demanded regardless ofcost, to use expensive alloy combinations, particularly those high in tungsten. In the case of my novel alloy, whichhas shown better performance than any alloy heretofore used for the purpose, its unusual merit is due to the use of the large amounts of comparatively inexpensive elements such as carbon and chrome, and the very small amount of the expensive element tungsten or its equivalent in molybdenum.

The discovery of the fact that the beneficial effects of tungsten can be intensified by theuse of large amounts of carbon and chrome, and that the resulting product has valuable properties resulting in performance superior to that of the most expensive alloy steels heretofore used, is the most striking feature of this invention.

Tests have demonstrated that this improvement is to the extent of from three hundred to four hundred per cent.

What I desire to claim is comprising from 1.50% to 2.25% of carbon; from 3.50% to 6% of chrome, and from 0.50% to 2% of tungsten, and the princi a1 part of the remainder being iron toget er 1. An alloy for the purposes describedf with manganese, silicon, phosphorus and sulphur Within the limits'now employed in commercial steel. 4 I

2.-An alloy for the purposes described comprising from 1.50% to 2.25% of carbon; from 8.50% to 6% of chrome; from'0.50% to 2% of tungsten, and from 0.10% to 0.50%- of vana'dium, and the principal part of the remainder being iron together with manganese, silicon, phosphorus and sulphur within the limits now employed in commerc'ial steel.

. March, 1925.

o. W. H PPENSTALL. 

